A 62-year-old man died days after falling in a darkened movie theater, an incident his family describes as entirely avoidable. Jack T. Smerecky, from Crystal Lake, Illinois, fell on November 25, 2025, at a Classic Cinemas theater in Woodstock. His family has filed a lawsuit against the theater’s owners, accusing them of negligence.
The Incident
According to the lawsuit, Smerecky fell asleep during a movie. When he awoke, the auditorium was pitch black, with all lights, including those along the stairs, turned off. The credits had already rolled, and he was alone. His attorney, Kevin Justen, stated: “The normal lighting that everyone experiences when they're exiting a theater was gone.” Smerecky tried to call for help, but his cellphone had no signal.
As he attempted to leave in the dark, Smerecky fell and broke his hip. Unable to summon assistance, he crawled to the exit and was discovered by a stranger on a freezing sidewalk. His son, Jack R. Smerecky, expressed shock: “I thought that there had to be a lot more to the story. It just didn’t add up to me. And, then, unfortunately, as we’ve gone further into this case and the investigation, it was just such an avoidable event.”
Medical Complications
Smerecky was rushed to a hospital and later transferred to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center. He underwent surgery to stabilize his hip and leg, which was placed in a traction device. However, days later, he suffered a pulmonary embolism and died. Justen explained: “During that time, he was immobilized, essentially. He had a pulmonary embolism, which results from immobility. It's a blood clotting in the legs that ends up moving to the lungs.”
The Winnebago County Coroner's Office ruled his death an accident.
Family’s Grief and Legal Action
In an online obituary, Smerecky was remembered as a lover of country music and the outdoors. “Jack will be remembered for his warmth, generosity, and devotion to those he loved,” it read. “His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the memories cherished by all who knew him.”
Justen argues that the death could have been prevented if theater staff had checked the auditorium before closing. “In this situation, a simple sweep — we call it a sweep — just walk down the aisle, would have prevented this completely.”
Tivoli Enterprises, Inc., which owns Classic Cinemas and is named in the lawsuit, expressed condolences but declined to comment on pending litigation. The Independent has contacted the Winnebago County Coroner's Office and Classic Cinemas for further comment.
